Schloss Neuschwanstein, Bavaria, Germany: which camera?

[raid]

I will be briefly traveling to Germany soon, with a visit to Neuschwanstein Castle.

Ref: TripAdvisor.com

I was going to travel light and use a M 4/3 camera, but then I thought to myself, what is the light is perfect then, and what if the Castle screams out "where is your SWC"?! 😀 Is the SWC too wide for such a large castle on top of a mountain? Would a Rolleiflex TLR be better suited here?
Or should I stick with the Leica M9 and the Summilux 35/1.4?

A few years ago, we visited Germany in late May, and during our visit to Schwangau to admire Schloss Newschwanstein, it started to snow.
Again this is not my image:

Ref: TravelAdvisor.com

Is it worth is for a brief visit to carry with me a "serious camera"?

 

[raid]

It could be that just a few (good) images of this castle may be quite rewarding. I may do it!

 

[jonmanjiro]

First of all, of course film! 😀

And judging by the sample images you linked I would think that a normal to telephoto lens would be more useful than a wide angle lens here, Raid. So your Rolleiflex should be screaming at you louder than your SWC 😉

 

[easyrider]

Long, long ago when people went on a European trip they would take along a Rolleiflex and/or Leica with a 50mm lens. If they took both, the Rollei was for B+W and the Leica for Kodachrome slides. And they usually came home with many memorable pix. But that was then and now is now, 🙂)

 

[pechelman]

to give some perspective, the following was taken with a 21mm equiv from the far end of the Mariennenbruke;


DSCT1157 by pehelman

This was really about the only picture I had from this day with the 21mm that I liked, because it included the almost straight down view to the water below.

A 50mm would also provide a nice picture of the castle from the bridge, of course more tightly cropped.
A longer lens really isnt needed unless you want that tightly framed shot as in the snowy picture above. My guess is that would be a ~200mm equiv on 35mm taken from somewhere near Hohenschwangau.

If you're concerned with pictures of the interior, dont bother, as no photography is permitted.

 

[raid]

First of all, of course film! 😀

And judging by the sample images you linked I would think that a normal to telephoto lens would be more useful than a wide angle lens here, Raid. So your Rolleiflex should be screaming at you louder than your SWC 😉

OK, so it is film. SWC or the 2.8D are maybe both fun to use there.

 

[raid]

Long, long ago when people went on a European trip they would take along a Rolleiflex and/or Leica with a 50mm lens. If they took both, the Rollei was for B+W and the Leica for Kodachrome slides. And they usually came home with many memorable pix. But that was then and now is now, 🙂)

I may take for quick AF images of people a small E-PL1 and 25/1.4 plus a film camera.

 

[raid]

to give some perspective, the following was taken with a 21mm equiv from the far end of the Mariennenbruke;


DSCT1157 by pehelman

This was really about the only picture I had from this day with the 21mm that I liked, because it included the almost straight down view to the water below.

A 50mm would also provide a nice picture of the castle from the bridge, of course more tightly cropped.
A longer lens really isnt needed unless you want that tightly framed shot as in the snowy picture above. My guess is that would be a ~200mm equiv on 35mm taken from somewhere near Hohenschwangau.

If you're concerned with pictures of the interior, dont bother, as no photography is permitted.

Getting close to the castle and then take photos may work well then with the SWC and its 38mm lens (like a 21mm).

Thanks.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Raid,

The best shot I ever saw of it was taken with a 5x7 inch/13x18 cm Linhof...

Cheers,

R.

 

[raid]

Dear Roger,
I believe you 100% on this one. I have seen hikers in the American SW with small versions of Linhof cameras. They must have known something about capturing details and tonality that is special to large format cameras.

I wonder which focal length lens they used?

I want to stay light and mobile, so I will not now take my Linhof Monorail 4x5 camera with me! It may require an extra seat on the plane!

 

[rscheffler]

I think you should study the layout of the area on Google Maps or Google Earth to get an idea of what angles are available to you. The first photo you showed, assuming that angle interests you, appears to be taken from across the Pöllat river gorge just to the east of the castle... somewhere up on the edge of the cliff facing the main entrance. On Google Maps there doesn't seem to be a readily accessible trail in that area on the ridge opposite the castle, but perhaps there are some footpaths for someone adventurous? Given that it's a vantage point east of the castle, ideal light will be in the morning. Here's another map with various highlighted paths, but again, none that are directly to the east of the main entrance...

All the common tourist photos from the Marienbrücke are from a more southernly location with a different, side angle of the castle, without the mountains in the background.

Here's another link to some hiking options. Click on the right or left arrow on the square photo at top left under the Schwangau icon to move to another hike.

One option seems to be to take the Tegelbergbahn (13 Euro one way 9am-5pm, though unsure if that's also summer hours) to the summit and hike back down the Wandertrilogie Himmelsstürmer and Wandertrilogie Wasserlaüfer trails down to the Marienbrücke. Seems there are a couple outlooks/vistas along the way, but I don't think it's quite the same angle as your first photo (much higher and more southerly).

I wish I could help more, but it's been over 15 years since I was last there... back when I still shot film... and it was a rainy, miserable day, so we only went in the castle and didn't hike around at all. Personally, if I only had a short time, I'd probably go somewhere else. I guess it depends on what you like and who you're traveling with. If you're staying around Munich, there are a lot of great, relatively accessible mountain hikes with great scenery. Bring a polarizer filter. 🙂

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Roger,
I believe you 100% on this one. I have seen hikers in the American SW with small versions of Linhof cameras. They must have known something about capturing details and tonality that is special to large format cameras.

I wonder which focal length lens they used?

I want to stay light and mobile, so I will not now take my Linhof Monorail 4x5 camera with me! It may require an extra seat on the plane!

Dear Raid,

Last para, highlighted: exactly. But I sometimes wonder how realistic we are (I include myself) when we seek to take a top-quality picture of an iconic subject with lesser equipment. A modern (post-1970s) 6x7cm camera and lens can probably equal 5x7 inch of the 1950s, thanks mostly to better films; but it still won't have the same look.

Cheers,

R.

 

[raid]

Yes, this may be true, but it does not have to be I who takes that magical image. I try to balance many things in my life, and photography is one of them. It could rain on that one afternoon when I will be at the Castle. Then what? The M9 and a Lux may do it in the end.